Keating re-signs with the Bulldogs

He will never be regarded as the superstar player, but he is a toiler, one that has been playing well for the Bulldogs season in 2012 – which has seen Kris Keating rewarded with a new 2-year deal, one he is grateful to have received.

“I’ve agreed for another two years here, I’m really excited about that,” Keating said.

“It’s a great club with great people here. It’s good to get it out of the way heading into the finals so I can keep my head down and keep working hard.”

Although starting the season in the NSW Cup, it was an injury to team-mate and former Dogs halfback Trent Hodkinson, that saw Keating rewarded with the starting halfback gig in Round five.

“I didn’t want to go,” he said.

“I’ve got a lot of great mates here now and the club’s on the rise, so you don’t want to leave the place.

“It’s been a massive turnaround after a very slow start to the year. I was in reserve grade for the first four rounds until I finally got my chance. I just had to keep working hard. At the start of the year Dessie (coach Des Hasler) said things would turn for me if I worked hard. I just have to keep doing that for us heading to the back end of the season.”

Forming a key combination with five-eighth Josh Reynolds, Keating is pleased to be a part of the Bulldogs plans for the future.

“To hear he wanted me here as part of his future plans was massive for me,” Keating said.

“It took a while to work a few things out, but I knew if I played consistent footy, everything would take care of itself.”